Rhode Island Politics
According to Senator Harold Metts, the people of Rhode Island had better drop their ‘Plantations’ or they’ll be viewed as racists by the rest of the country. Metts, as reported by the Providence Business News, raised the specter of economic retribution should voters reject the removal of “Providence Plantations” from the official name of the…
We’ve discussed the recent ruling by the RI Supreme Court that undermines a big stick in the RI Ethics Commissions arsenal. WRNI’s Scott McKay offers a good example of the cognitive dissonance displayed: [W]hat can one say about a commission that slaps a governor for attending a professional football game but allows a state senator…
On site for part of a Rhode Island House session, Monique watched several members vote for representatives who were not at their seats, a ritual that a friend described as ongoing. The answer to Monique’s question about the legality of that act came in the form of a House rule that allows it if the…
Still talking about ‘Plantations’: Supporters of a plan that would give voters in next year’s general election the opportunity to strike the phrase “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s formal name, launched a public awareness and education campaign Wednesday….Backers say there is much work to be done if they are to persuade Rhode Island voters…
At least, that’s what I think the just-arrived press release indicates: Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts announced today that she will seek re-election, pledging to use her position to make health care affordable for every Rhode Islander. … “I’ve spent the past few months exploring a run for governor, and I want to thank all of…
Wide open. And in an interview yesterday afternoon with the ProJo’s Katherine Gregg, the holder of the most powerful office in the state sees no particular reason to change this state of affairs. I don’t care what state you are talking about, you are always going to have one or two people who are going…
From the governor’s office (full release in extended entry): Governor Donald L. Carcieri today transmitted, with signature, the FY 2010 budget, citing he had no other choice with more than $200 million at stake. In a letter to Speaker William H, Murphy, Governor Donald L. Carcieri voiced his disappointment with the budget stating, “My signing…
The Governor’s office confirmed five minutes ago that the Governor had not yet acted on the budget. Still time to sneak in a suggestion, then. In the category of just-because-it’s-obvious-doesn’t-mean-it-doesn’t need-to-be-said, the Ocean State Republican urges Governor Carcieri to veto the budget bill on his desk. … the Assembly’s budget increases taxes on investments in…
I awoke this morning with a buzzing in my ears and a panicked conviction that binding arbitration for teacher contracts would be a very bad thing. A very bad thing, indeed. Perhaps those who oppose the concept of a never-ending contract should clear their ears, too, so as to hear the buzz. From “Vermonters for…
Writes the RI Supreme Court majority in the case of William Irons and the Ethics Commission: “We wish to stress in the strongest possible terms, however, that it in no way grants a legislator the right to transgress the Code of Ethics or any other law,” the majority wrote. Unprotected actions include political activities, efforts…